Historic Preservation Links

Leon Springs

Located at Interstate 10 and
Boerne Stage Road near the northwestern edge of the San Antonio
city limits, the Leon Springs Historic District contains three
buildings that have had a significant impact on the
architectural and cultural history of San Antonio's surrounding
hill country communities.

German immigrant, Max Aue, was awarded 640 acres at Leon Springs
in 1852 for service as a Texas Ranger. The Aue house/store
became the first stop on the "Jackass" Stage route from San
Antonio to San Diego, California. One day’s journey from San
Antonio or from Boerne, Aue had built at a strategic location.
Popularity as a horse changing station and rest stop prompted
Aue to build the Settlement Inn in 1879. The ground floor served
as the family residence while the second floor, reached by an
exterior stairway, was rented as transient lodging. Around 1855,
the limestone Saltbox house/store was built. Marriage to Emma
Toepperwein in 1857 probably resulted in the construction of the
dogtrot log cabin.

In 1887, the railroad came through Leon Springs and the town was
renamed by the railroad as Aue Station. Later as automobiles
became more popular, then the Aue family built a gas station
that was expanded to a bar and restaurant. During World War I, with
the expansion of Camp Bullis to the south, Rudy Aue Sr. built
five saloons at Leon Springs. Unfortunately none of these
buildings are extant. Also during WWI, the Leon Springs Hardware
Store was used as a dance club/bar called "B29 Club".

Stagecoach routes provided a nineteenth-century network, making
travel and mail delivery possible to all communities. The
original 15 routes were mostly between the more populated
communities. As the state’s population grew so did the number of
stage lines. The first San Antonio-El Paso Mail stagecoach
departed November 1851.
At the beginning of the Civil War there were 31 stage lines
operating in Texas.

The coming of the railroads signaled the end
of the stagecoach era in Texas. By the early 1880s the
stagecoach era was essentially over, although there was some
stage service in rural areas past 1900. Through the years new
settlements sprang up along the routes and near military posts.
Thus, the stagecoach era can be regarded as an important factor
in the development of Texas.

The former stagecoach stop
that comprises the Leon Springs Historic District exemplifies
the evolution of transportation in America. In addition to
being designated a local historic district, the Aue Stagecoach Inn was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1979.